Venetian blind



May 29, 1956 H. REINERS AL Q 2,747,662

VENETIAN BLIND Filed Jan. 11, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR6 g 15 BY (ILL/6 M ATTORNEY May 29, 1956 VENETIAN BLIND Filed Jan. 11, 1954 H. H. REINERS El AL 2 SheetsSheet 2 T (jaw ATTORNEY United States Patent VENETIAN BLIND Herbert H. Reiners and Myrtle E. Reiners, Orlando, Fla. Application January 11, 1954, Serial No. 403,258

4 Claims. (Cl. 160-178) This invention relates to window shades or blinds, and particularly to the type thereof known as Venetian blinds.

Blinds of the type stated consist generally in a plurality of horizontally arranged slats supported in parallel spaced relation between a supporting top rail and a bottom rail by means of flexible members fixed to the inner and outer edges of said rails. The top rail is pivoted upon a fixed horizontal axis, and the flexible members each consist of inner and outer parallel tapes between which said slats are supported. The flexible members are preferably spaced inwardly from the ends of the slats; and means are provided for turning the top rail on its horizontal, longitudinal axis, thereby correspondingly tilting the several slats and bottom rail in unison to open or close the blind. Means are also provided for raising the blind by lifting the bottom rail until all of the slats are assembled, one upon the other upon said bottom rail at the top portion of the window. The top rail is generally arranged within a control box fixed in the upper portion of the window frame, as will be described hereinafter.

With blinds of the type stated, where the slats are turned on their longitudinal axes to admit or shut out light and/ or air, all ofthe slats are moved in unison, and to the same degree. Hence, when the blind is operated to close a portion thereof for privacy, the whole device will be closed thereby shutting out both light and ventilation.

The object of the present invention is to provide a Venetian blind of such construction that the lower portion may be closed and the upper portion remain open, or vice versa; so that light, ventilation and privacy be had as desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a blind as mentioned, in which the novel features thereof will not prevent the device from being operated and used in the usual manner.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

With the above objects in view the invention consists generally in a Venetian blind comprising a head rail and a bottom rail, a pair of flexible members depending from said top rail and supporting said bottom rail, a plurality of slats supported inhorizontal parallel relation between said rails, each of said flexible members comprising a front tape and a rear tape, and provided with means for supporting the adjacent edge portion of the several slats in fixed relation thereto, and one of said tapes of each flexible member being elastic, so that stretching of said elastic tapes will cause the adjacent edges of the slats to become spaced further apart than at the opposite edges, whereby the slats will become progressively opened or closed from top to bottom of the blind, and means for holding the elastic tapes in extended or tensed position.

The invention further consists in various details of construction and combination of parts as will be fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

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Fig. 1 is an elevation of a blind embodying the invention, and illustrating the same as applied to a window.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on substantially the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 illustrating diagrammatically the slats adjusted to close the lower portion of the window and to leave the upper portion open;

Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the slats closed at the upper portion and open at the bottom;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the left upper corner of the blind with the front panel of the control box removed;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating a modified form; and

Fig. 7 is a detail view of a modified form of the means for holding the elastic element in tensed position.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, of the drawings, a blind embodying the invention is illustrated as applied to a Window of which 10 indicates the window frame, 11 and 12 the upper and lower sash respectively, and 13 the inner sill.

Secured to the upper portion of the window frame 10, in the usual or any preferred manner, is the control box 15 which may be of any preferred form. In the form illustrated in the drawings, the box 15 comprises a rear wall 16, end walls 1'7 and it and a front panel 19 which is usually readily removable to give access to the interior of the box. Extending from end to end of the box is a horizontal supporting element 20, which is arranged below the level of the upper edge of the box for a purpose hereinafter described.

Fixed to the supporting element 2%, and depending therefrom are brackets 21 and 22 providing bearings for trunnions 23; and 24 on the ends of the upper rail 25 of the blind. A segment gear 26 is fixed to the trunnion 23 and meshes with a worm 27 on a shaft 28 having bearings 29 in bracket 21. The shaft 23 extends transmentioned, each consists of a forward tape 32, and a rear tape 33, the upper ends of which are secured as at 34 and 35 respectively to the upper rail 25; and the lower ends of said tapes are correspondingly secured to the bottom rail 36. Spaced at uniform distances apart from the top rail to the bottom rail, and between the tapes 32 and 33, are a plurality of parallel slats 37. Usually a series of short cross tapes 38 are secured at their ends to the tapes 32 and 33 to form supports upon which the slats 37 rest, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. However, any other suitable means may be employed to hold the edges of the slats in fixed relation to the adjacent portions of the tapes 32 and 33.

In carrying out the present invention, one of the tapes, 32 or 33 is formed of an elastic material. As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the front tape is elastic; whereas in Fig. 7 the rear tape is indicated as having such quality. It is obvious that any downward tension on the elastic tapes will cause the adjacent edges of the slats to become spaced further apart than at the opposite edges, thereby causing a graduated degree of openings between the slats from the upper rail of the blind to the lower rail. To hold the device in the desired adjusted position, means are provided for fastening the elastic tapes in extended position. To this end a securing element is fixed to the lower rail at substantially the center of the length thereof, and depends from that edge of the rail to which the elastic tapes are secured. In Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7, said element comprises a strap 40 provided with an aperture or a series of apertures 41 to receive a pin or hook 42, or the like, fixed to the sill 13. In Fig. 7 the securing element is illustrated as a loop 43 hinged to the lower rail and is adapted to engage over a stud 44. It is obvious that many securing means may be devised and used without departing from the scope of this invention.

The blind is raised and lowered in the usual manner by elevating cords 46 which pass over sheaves 47 mounted above the supporting element 20', and extend downwardly through apertures in the slats to the bottom rail 36 to which they are secured. As this construction is common to blinds of this type, a detail illustration is omitted as superfluous.

In operating the device, should it be desired to close the lower portion of the blind and leave the upper portion open for light and/ or air, the blind is operated by means of the cord 31, to open all the spaces between the slats. The securing element, represented in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 as a strap 40, is then pulled downwardly, stretching the elastic tapes 32 until the lower slats are turned to the desired extent, and the strap is then fixed to the hook 40 or other securing means, as illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 2. Should it be desired to have the upper portion of the blind closed, and the bottom portion open, the blind is first operated in the usual way by the cord 31, to close the slats. Upon tensing the elastic members as above described the slats will be opened more and more from top to bottom, as illustrated in Fig. 3. After the upper rail has been set at the desired angle as above described, the tension applied to the elastic tapes will not alter the same, as the Worm 27 and gear 26 locks the rail in the adjusted position. It should be understood that Figs. 2 and 3 are merely diagrammatic illustrations as to the relative positions of the slats, and many of the elements of the blind, including the operating and lifting means, are omitted to avoid unnecessary confusion.

We claim:

1. A blind comprising a pivoted top rail, a bottom rail and a plurality of flexible members depending from said upper rail and supporting said bottom rail, each of said flexible members comprising a front tape and a rear tape, a plurality of horizontal parallel slats arranged between said front and rear tapes and spaced in sequence at uniform distances apart from said top rail to said bottom rail, means for supporting said slats with the edges thereof in fixed relation to the adjacent portions of said tapes, all of the tapes on one side of said blind being elastic and those on the op osite side being nonelastic, means on said bottom rail for stretching said elastic tapes, and means cooperating therewith for holding the tapes in stretched position.

2. A blind comprising a pivoted top rail, a bottom rail, and a plurality of flexible members depending from said upper rail and supporting said bottom rail, each of said flexible members comprising a front tape and a rear tape, a plurality of horizontal parallel slats arranged between said front and rear tapes, means for supporting said slats with the edges thereof in fixed spaced relation to the adjacent portions of said tapes, all of the tapes on one side of the blind being elastic and those on the opposite side being non-elastic, means on said bottom rail aflording means for uniformly stretching said elastic tapes and means cooperative therewith for holding the same in stretched position.

3. A blind as set forth in claim 2 further characterized by means for initially turning said top rail and the members supported thereby on their horizontal axes, and for locking said top rail in an adjusted position.

4. A blind comprising a pivoted top rail, a bottom rail, and a plurality of flexible members depending from said upper rail and supporting said bottom rail, each of said flexible members comprising a front tape and a rear tape, a plurality of horizontal parallel slats arranged between said front and rear tapes, means for supporting said slats with the edges thereof in fixed relation to the adjacent portions of said tapes, all of the tapes on one side of said blind being elastic and those on the opposite side being non-elastic, means for turning said top rail to correspondingly turn said slats to a desired transverse angular position and for locking said top rail in position, and means associated with the bottom rail for uniformly stretching said elastic tapes and for holding the same in stretched position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2 ,297,996 Wolfe Oct. 6, 1942 2,298,891 Lorentzen Oct. 13, 1942 2,504,771 West Apr. 18, 1950 2,603,285 Caligari July 15, 1952 

